Internet television program guide system

ABSTRACT

An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access information related to television programs over an Internet communications link. The user can view television program guide listings and related video stills and video clips. The user can perform database searches on the program guide listings (e.g., to search for a particular type of television program). The user can set a reminder message for a television program that is transmitted prior to the transmission time of the program. If desired, the user can select an option that directs the multimedia system to tune directly to a television channel for a selected program or to a related television program guide or movie guide service on a television channel. The user can order pay-per-view events using the system.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/894,621, filed Aug. 20, 2007, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/486,948, filed Jul. 13, 2006 (now abandoned),which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/115,099, filedApr. 26, 2005, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.10/735,093, filed Dec. 12, 2003 (now abandoned), which is a continuationof U.S. application Ser. No. 10/287,640, filed Nov. 1, 2002 (nowabandoned), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/560,207, filed Apr. 27, 2000 (now abandoned), which is a continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/938,028, filed Sep. 18, 1997 (nowabandoned), which claims the benefit of United States provisionalapplication No. 60/032,539, filed Dec. 10, 1996. All of these priorapplications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the Internet, and more particularly, totechniques for providing television program guide information andservices to a user over the Internet.

A large number of television channels are available over cabletelevision systems and satellite television systems. Television viewershave traditionally had to consult preprinted television program listingsto determine which programs were scheduled to be broadcast on aparticular day. More recently, television-based program guides have beendeveloped that allow television viewers to view television programlistings directly on their television sets.

For example, the Prevue® channel is a scrolling television programlistings service that a cable system operator may make available tosubscribers over a dedicated cable channel. Viewers can tune to theappropriate television channel to view program listings for televisionprograms that are currently being broadcast and are scheduled to bebroadcast in the next few hours. Although the Prevue® channel is avaluable service, the viewer is somewhat constrained by the passivenature of the service. For example, the viewer cannot view televisionlistings for the next day or week.

As a result, more advanced television program guide services have beendeveloped that allow the service provider to deliver television programlisting data to the user's set-top box. The data is typically deliveredover the television cable system infrastructure (e.g., on a giventelevision channel during the vertical blanking interval or over anout-of band channel.) Software in the set-top box allows the viewer todisplay the television, program listings on the viewer's television set.

These program guide services allow the user to manipulate the televisionlistings by searching or sorting through the listings using criteriasuch as genre, channel, and broadcast time. An example of a such aninteractive television program guide is the Prevue Express® guide ofPrevue Networks, Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., the assignee of the presentinvention.

Although passive scrolling guides and interactive set-top box guides areuseful sources of television program guide information, millions ofusers with personal computers have not been able to obtain on-linetelevision program listings. In addition, users have not been able toselect from diverse options that allow the user to view promotionalvideo clips, interview segments, audio clips, and other multimediamaterial related to a given television program.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide atelevision program guide system that provides television programlistings from a server to a user's multimedia system over an Internetcommunications link.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a televisionprogram guide system that allows users to click on text or still imagesto view promotional video clips, audio clips, interview segments, andother multimedia material related to a given television program.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordancewith the principles of the present invention by providing an Internettelevision program guide system. A computer system having a medialibrary and a data server is used to provide multimedia clips andrelated television program guide data. The multimedia material andprogram guide data are provided to a web server. The web server providesthis information to the user's multimedia system via an Internetcommunications link.

The multimedia system has a processing unit for receiving informationfrom the Internet communications link and processing such informationaccordingly. The multimedia system also has a video unit for receivingtelevision signals. In a first embodiment, the processing unit is basedon a personal computer running a standard web browser with plug-ins. Thevideo unit is based on a television. In a second embodiment, theprocessing unit and video unit of the multimedia system are provided byan integrated personal computer and television unit. In a thirdembodiment, the processing unit is in an Internet capable set-top boxand the video unit is based on a television.

The web server may be located adjacent to the computer system and theprogram guide data and multimedia material provided to the multimediasystem via the Internet. Alternatively, the web server may be located ina cable system headend. When the web server is located in the cablesystem headend, program guide data and other multimedia material may beprovided to the web server via a satellite link. The program guide dataand multimedia material are provided to the multimedia system over anInternet communications link.

Television program guide data and related multimedia information arepreferably provided to the user's multimedia system in the form of oneor more web pages. Because such an arrangement allows the use of thewidely adopted hypertext transfer protocol (http) and emerging webstandards, a user with a personal computer can access information usingcommonly available web browser software. Because program guideinformation is distributed over the Internet, the user can access thisinformation at remote locations. For example, the user can access thetelevision program guide service while traveling by car, bus, train, orplane, from a hotel room or business meeting, from a personal computerat work, or in any suitable environment in which there is a link to theInternet. In all arrangements (whether the user is accessing the programguide service from their home or from a remote location), the systembenefits from using the established protocols and standards of theInternet.

In addition, because the Internet television program guide is providedas a web site having a number of linked web pages, features can beeasily added or deleted from the service by the service provider,without directly affecting the hardware and software of the user.

Using a web site platform also allows a wide range of service options tobe provided. In particular, numerous media formats (animation, fullmotion video, sound, still images, and text) are supported and may beinterconnected using various embedded hypertext transfer protocol links.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantageswill be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a media library and data serverinterconnected with a web server and various multimedia systems.

FIG. 2 is a generalized diagram of a user's multimedia system.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram similar to that of FIG. 1 showing anarrangement in which the web server is located in a cable systemheadend.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a home page for an Internet television programguide.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a map-based menu for identifying a geographicalarea of interest.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a map-based menu for a smaller geographicalregion than shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a web page informing the user that no service is available.

FIG. 8 is a web page offering alternatives to local service.

FIG. 9 is a web page allowing the user to provide information regardingthe user's multimedia system to the service provider.

FIG. 10 is a web page presenting various program guide options to theuser.

FIG. 11 is a web page containing information on community events.

FIG. 12 is a web page providing the user an opportunity to give feedbackto a local cable system operator.

FIG. 13 is a web page containing information pertaining to the localcable operator's system.

FIG. 14 is a web page containing weather information.

FIG. 15 is a web page presenting various program guide options includingdirect links to related program guide and movie guide televisionchannels.

FIG. 16 is a web page containing television program guide listingsorganized by time.

FIG. 17 is a web page presenting a menu of channel selections.

FIG. 18 is a web page containing television program guide listingsorganized by channel.

FIG. 19 is a web page containing icons representing category options.

FIG. 20 is a web page containing television program guide listingsorganized by category.

FIG. 21 is a search page containing a box for entering search text andvarious search field options.

FIG. 22 is a television program guide listing page based on the resultsof a search.

FIG. 23. is a web page presenting program guide options related topromotional clips, interview segments, and pay-per-view and premiumservices.

FIG. 24 is a web page presenting various image stills that may beselected by the user when it is desired to view related video clips.

FIG. 25 is a web page presenting user options regarding pay-per-view andpremium services.

FIG. 26 is a web page containing television program listings for aselected pay-per-view channel.

FIG. 27 is a web page containing television program listings for aselected premium channel.

FIG. 28 is a web page providing information regarding upcomingpay-per-view sporting and special events.

FIG. 29 is a web page containing still images corresponding to availableinterview segments.

FIG. 30 is a program information web page containing information on aprogram selected by the user and presenting related options.

FIG. 31 is a web page that allows a user to enter information forordering a pay-per-view event.

FIG. 32 is a web page that provides a showcase for advertisers.

FIG. 33 is a web page containing detailed advertising information on aselected topic or television program.

FIG. 34 is a site map showing the options that are selected and thelinks that are traversed in navigating among the television programguide web pages of FIGS. 4-33.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An Internet television program guide system 10 is shown in FIG. 1.Television program information is stored in media library 12 and dataserver 14. Media library 12 preferably contains an array of compact discread only memory (CD-ROM) disks, digital video disks (DVDs), or othersuitable media for storing multimedia content. Media library 12 containstelevision program clips and related interviews and reviews. Thetelevision program information stored in media library 12 is primarilyvideo-based. Data server 14 maintains various databases of televisionprogram information. For example, data server 14 may have a remote mediadatabase containing descriptions of videos in media library 12. Dataserver 14 may also have a database containing information on standardtitles, a pay per view database containing information regardingpay-per-view events, and a scheduling information database. Data server14 may have a cable system operator database containing channel lineups,information on the time zone of the operator, weather data for theoperator's region, data on the zip codes in the cable system operator'sarea, etc. Other databases may be supported by data server 14, asdesired. The television program information in data, server 14 isprimarily in non-video formats.

Media library 12 and data server 14 are interconnected with transmissionserver 16 via internal network 18. Media library 12, data server 14,network 18, and transmission server 16 make up computer system 19.Television program information may be stored on data server 14 in arelational database format and may be stored on transmission server 16in an object-oriented database format. A building process implemented inthe C** programming language can be used to periodically (e.g., once aday) build a temporary data set of television program information (e.g.,a seven-day to one-month data set) for storage on transmission server16. Transmission server 16 also receives information for the Internettelevision program guide service such as weather data, sports scores,etc., via data input 17.

Television program information and related data may be transferred fromtransmission server 16 to web server 20 via communications line 22.Communications line 22 may be part of an internal network or may be astandard dedicated communications line. Web server 20 can be connectedto the Internet 24 via communications link 26. Communications link 26 ispreferably a telephone line or other suitable Internet communicationspath.

If transmission server 16 and web server 20 are separate devices, asshown in FIG. 1, transmission server 16 can be used as a common dataprocessing facility for other applications which use the type oftelevision program data stored on transmission server 16. If desired,the functions of transmission server 16 and web server 20 can beintegrated in a signal machine.

Web server 20 uses a standard protocols such as the TCP/IP (TransmissionControl Protocol/Internet Protocol) and hypertext transfer protocol tomake the television program information available over the Internet 24to users at multimedia systems 28, 30, and 32 via communications links34, 36, and 38. Communications links 34, 36, and 38 are Internet linksformed from telephone lines, radio-frequency (RF) links, cable modemlinks, satellite dish links, combinations of links such as these, or anyother suitable internet connection paths.

Multimedia system 28 has personal computer 40 and may have television42. Certain program guide features require that personal computer 40 beable to control television 42 via link 41, which may be, e.g., aninfrared communications link. Link 41 allows, personal computer 40 totune television 42 using control signals. Television 42 receivestelevision signals from input 44. The television signals received byinput 44 and the other television signal inputs shown in FIGS. 1-3 maybe provided by cable television, satellite television, broadcasttelevision, a combination of such sources, or any other suitable sourceof television programming signals. Internet access for multimedia system28 is provided via Internet communications link 34.

Multimedia system 30 has an integrated personal computer and television46, such as the Gateway 2000 Destination® PC-TV hybrid available fromGateway 2000 Inc. of North Sioux City, S.Dak. Television signals areprovided at input 48. Internet access is provided via Internetcommunications link 36.

Multimedia system 32 has an Internet capable set-top box 50. Set-top box50 may use the TV OnLine® set-top box application software of World GateCorporation, which may be implemented on set-top boxes such as theCFT-2200® of General Instrument Corporation of Hatboro, Pa. and the8600x® of Scientific Atlanta of Atlanta, Ga. Set-top box 50 receivestelevision signals via input 52. Internet access is provided viaInternet communications link 38. Video display signals containingtelevision and Internet information are provided to television 54 byline 56.

During operation of system 10, certain data processing functions, suchas user-initiated searches and sorts, are typically performed on webserver 20. If desired, such functions can be performed on a suitabledata processing component in multimedia systems 28, 30, and 32.

Certain television guide functions require only that multimedia systems28, 30, and 32 contain web browsing capabilities. Other functionsrequire television tuning and video recording capabilities. FIG. 2 showsa generalized multimedia system arrangement that is capable ofsupporting controlled television tuning and video recording, if desired.As shown in FIG. 2, multimedia system 58 has a processing unit 60, whichpreferably contains memory for storing instructions and a microprocessorfor executing the instructions. Processing unit 60 accesses the Internetvia Internet link 62. Video unit 64, which may be connected toprocessing unit 60 by communications line 66, contains recording unit68, tuner 70, and monitor 72. Television signals are received at input74.

Tuner 70 is used to select television programs from television signalson input 74 for viewing or recording. Tuner 70 may be controlled underthe direction of control signals provided by processing unit 60 overcommunications link 66. Television signals and Internet information canbe viewed using monitor 72. Recording unit 68 allows the user to makevideocassette recordings of television programs. Recording unit 68 mayalso be controlled by control signals from processing unit 60.

The operation of processing unit 60 is determined based on the executionof instructions stored in memory in processing unit 60 and on controlinputs received from the user via user interface 76. Suitable userinterfaces include handheld infrared remote controls, keyboards,pointing devices, and voice recognition devices.

Multimedia systems, such as multimedia system 58 of FIG. 2 may be usedin place of multimedia systems 28, 30, and 32. Alternatively, systemssuch as systems 28, 30, and 32 may be modified to incorporate featureslike those shown multimedia system 58. For example, if it were desiredto provide a multimedia system with circuitry to handle video recording,video recording units (such as recording unit 68) could be provided insystems such as multimedia systems 28, 30, and 32. In addition, insystems such as system 58, certain components may be used more than once(e.g., tuner 70 may be contained within both a television component anda videocassette recorder component in system 58).

Regardless of the specific configuration of the multimedia systems usedin system 10, the user of such a multimedia system has the capability toaccess television program guide information on web server 20. Many ofthe features of the Internet program guide service are available usingmultimedia systems with the capabilities of a modern personal computer(desktop or laptop). If it is desired to use certain program guidefeatures that rely upon controlling a tuner or recording unit, themultimedia system should also have the ability to tune to a desiredtelevision program from among the various television programs providedat inputs 44, 48, 52, and 74 and have the ability to record that programautomatically, under the control of commands from processing unit 60.Additional features may also be implemented on multimedia system 58.

Another configuration that may be used for an Internet televisionprogram guide system is shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, Internettelevision program guide system has media library 80 and data server 82.Media library 80 contains television program clips, interviews, andreviews. The television program information stored in media library 80is primarily video. Data server 82 contains databases of televisionprogram information. For example, data server 82 may have a databasecontaining descriptions of videos in media library 80. Data server 82may also have a databases containing information on program titles,pay-per-view events, and television program schedules. Data server 82may have a cable system operator database containing channel lineups,information on the time zone of the operator, weather data for theoperator's region, data on the zip codes in the cable system operator'sarea, etc. Other databases may also be supported by data server 82. Thetelevision program information in data server 82 is mainly in formatsother than video.

Media library 80 and data server 82 are interconnected with transmissionserver 84 via internal network 83. Media library 80, data server 82, andinternal network 83 make up computer system 87. Television programinformation may be stored on data server 82 in a relational databaseformat and may be stored on transmission server 84 in an object-orienteddatabase format. A building process implemented in the C** programminglanguage may be used to periodically (e.g., once a day) build atemporary data set of television, program information (e.g., a seven-dayto one-month data set) for storage on transmission server 84.Transmission server 84 also receives information for the Internettelevision program guide service such as weather data, sports scores,etc., via data input 85.

A web server 86 is provided in each cable system headend 88. Cablesystem headend 88 has additional components (not shown) for distributingcable television signals to customers in the service area surroundingheadend 88. Providing web server 86 in a location that is relativelyclose to users allows television program information to be provided tothe users efficiently.

Television program information (including video clips and associatedtelevision program data) is transmitted from transmission server 84 toeach cable system headend 88 via satellite uplink 90 and satellitedownlink 92. Each web server 86 uses the Internet TCP/IP protocol tomake the television program information available to users at multimediasystems 94, 96, and 98 via respective communications links 100, 102, and104. Communications links 100, 102, and 104 are Internet links formedfrom telephone lines, radio-frequency (RF) links, cable modem links,satellite dish downlinks, combinations of links such as these, or anyother suitable Internet connection paths. Although illustrated as directlinks between multimedia systems 94, 96, and 98 and web server 86,communications links 100, 102, and 104 may be Internet paths that passthrough extensive portions of the Internet.

Multimedia system 94 has personal computer 106 and may have television108. Television 108 receives television signals from input 110. Accessto web server 86 is provided via Internet communications link 100.

Multimedia system 96 has an integrated personal computer and television112, such as the Gateway 2000 Destination PC-TV hybrid. Televisionsignals are provided at input 114. Access to web server 86 is providedvia Internet communications link 102.

Multimedia system 98 has an Internet capable set-top box 116, such asthe TV OnLine® set-top box. Set-top box 116 receives television signalsvia input 118. Access to web server 86 is provided via Internetcommunications link 104. Video display signals containing television andInternet information are provided to television 120 by line 122.

The system hardware shown in FIGS. 1-3 for providing television programguide Internet services is illustrative and other suitable hardwarearrangements may be used, if desired. Regardless of the particularhardware system that is used, however, the present invention preferablyinvolves providing television program guide services and features tousers over the Internet in the form of multiple, web pages that use thestandard hypertext transfer protocol (http). In the system of FIG. 1,web pages and associated program guide features (such as searching,etc.) are provided using web server 20. In the system of FIG. 3, webpages and associated features are provided using web server 86.

Because television program guide services are provided using web pages,the program guide services may be accessed using standard web browsersoperating on the appropriate processing unit in the user's multimediasystem. For example, in multimedia system 58 of FIG. 2, a web browsermay be implemented using processing unit 60. Suitable web browsersinclude the Internet Explorer® web browser of Microsoft Corporation ofRedmond, Wash. and the Netscape Navigator® web browser of NetscapeCommunications Corporation of Mountain View, Calif. Such web browserssupport the viewing of various types of multimedia content, such asvideo stills (JPEG or GIF files) and video and audio clips (AVI, MOV,and MPG files). If desired, certain of these multimedia supportfunctions may be provided as web browser plug-ins (i.e., specialsoftware modules designed to enhance the features of a web browserapplication). A suitable video player plug-in for MOV files is theQuicktime® application of Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif. AVIand MPG (or MPEG—Motion Picture Expert Group) files may be played usingthe ActiveMovie® application of Microsoft Corporation.

An illustrative welcome page 124 for the television program guideservice of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4. (A site map isshown in FIG. 34.) Web browser function keys 126 help the user atmultimedia system 58 to navigate through web pages of material such aswelcome page 124. Users may also navigate by clicking on an image or anelement of highlighted text with cursor 142, which may be controlled bya pointing device such as a mouse or trackball. Other arrangements forselecting links may be used if supported by the user interface 76 thatis provided in multimedia system 58. Web browser function keys 126include back and forward keys that allow the user to navigate backwardand forward along a browsing trail. Web browser function keys 126 arenot shown in the other FIGS., but are shown in FIG. 4 to illustrate thetypes of function keys that are available with a standard web browser.

Welcome page 124 may contain identifying logos 128 (which may be, forexample, United States trademarks). Identifying logos 128 allow a userto quickly associate a service provider, such as the assignee of thepresent invention, Prevue Networks, Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., with theInternet television program guide service. If desired, welcome page 124can contain summary instructions 130 that inform the user of some of thefeatures available with the service. Other web pages (not shown) maycontain links that point to welcome page 124.

Advertisements 132 and 134 allow a service provider to generate revenuesfrom parties who wish to advertise products using Internet televisionprogram guide system 10 (FIG. 1) or 78 (FIG. 3).

Advertisements 132 and 134 may be video stills, may be animated, or mayinclude full-motion video. Audio material can also be associated withadvertisements 132 and 134. For example, supplemental audio informationcan be provided when a user clicks on advertisement 132 or 134. Ifdesired, advertisements 132 and 134 may be linked to web sites providedby the advertising parties. The advertisements 132 and 134 that aredisplayed may periodically (e.g., once every few seconds) cycle throughdifferent advertisements for different advertisers.

An important aspect of the Internet television program guide serviceprovided by system 10 (FIG. 1) and system 78 (FIG. 3) relates to on-linetelevision program listings and information on upcoming movies andspecial events. The user may be presented with a number of choicesregarding the type of on-line information that is available. Forexample, the user may be presented with the opportunity to selectbetween go local option 136, go national option 138, and go satelliteoption 140. Additional features of the service may be accessed after theuser has selected one of these options.

If the user desires to select go local option 136, the user may beprompted to enter a zip code for the local area of interest in box 144.If service is available, the program guide system links the user to anappropriate the local system operator's web site based on the zip codeinformation. If desired, the user can select a local area by enteringinformation such as a cable system operator's name, the name of a city,international country and city information, etc. Another way in whichthe user may select a local service area of interest is using amap-based graphical user interface. As shown in FIG. 5, the user ispresented with United States map 146. The user selects a state ofinterest using cursor 142. If necessary, additional maps containinggreater levels of detail are provided, each allowing the user to makefurther geographical selections. Ultimately, the user is presented witha local map (e.g., a map that allows the user to select from severalavailable cable system operators). In map 148 of FIG. 6, the user canselect between three available cable system operator regions: region 1,region 2, and region 3.

If no local service is available, the user may be provided with a webpage such as no service page 150 of FIG. 7, in which the user isinformed that local service is not presently available in the areaselected by the user. No service page 150 may provide the user with anopportunity to submit the user's e-mail address, cable providerinformation, local zip code information, and comments. Informationprovided by the user can be used by the operator of the televisionprogram guide system to solicit participation from non-participatinglocal cable operators.

If no local service is available, the user may also be provided withpick again page 152, as shown in FIG. 8. Pick again page 152 providesthe user with another opportunity to select go national option 138 or gosatellite option 140. In addition, pick again page 152 provides the userwith select a city option 154, which is associated with a lessrestrictive set of program information than go local option 136 (FIG.4). With select a city option 154, the user may select a desired cityusing arrow key 156 (or alternatively, could type the name of the citydirectly into box 158). After entering the desired city, the cityinformation is submitted to the system by clicking on submit button 160.Because select a city option 154 is less localized than go local option136, choosing select a city option 154 makes it more likely that therewill be a set of program listings available for the user.

If service is available for the user in either the city selected in cityoption 154 or the localized geographic area selected in go local option136, the user is presented with registration page 162, as shown in FIG.9. Registration page 162 may contain instructions prompting the user toenter an e-mail address and information concerning the user's, computerequipment. As with many of the other web pages provided in connectionwith the Internet television program, guide service of systems 10(FIG. 1) and 78 (FIG. 3), registration page 162 contains an identifyinglogo 164 and advertisements 166 and 168.

Upon completing registration page 162, the user is presented with localcable site page 170 of FIG. 10, which is customized to reflect the localgeographic area or city selected by the user. Local cable site page 170may contain a welcome message 172 that is customized to reflect the nameof the local cable system operator.

A number of options 174 may be presented as hypertext links toassociated web pages. An image 175 is displayed that changes as the userplaces cursor 142 on top of each option 174. For example, the image 175of FIG. 10 is presented when the user positions cursor 142 over programguide option 190. Different images are displayed as cursor 142 passesover each option 174. The images 175 to be displayed are stored asbitmap images in processing unit 60 of multimedia system 58 (FIG. 2).This technique of presenting context-sensitive images to illustrate thecurrent position of the cursor over hypertext link options is preferablyused throughout the Internet television program guide service.

Various web pages may be displayed depending on which option 174 isselected by the user. For example, selecting community events option 176presents the user with community events page 178 (FIG. 11), whichcontains information on local upcoming community events. If desired, thelisted community events may be specific to the type of service to whichthe user subscribes (e.g., cable or satellite).

Selecting cable feedback option 180 presents the user with cablefeedback page 182 (FIG. 12), which allows the user to submit an e-mailaddress and comments to the local cable system operator.

Selecting cable operator option 184 takes the user to cable operatorpage 186 (FIG. 13), which contains information related to the localcable system. For example, by clicking on icon 187, the user may beprovided with a weekly report prepared by the cable system operator.

If the user wishes to customize the program guide service, the user mayclick on customize option 185 (FIG. 10). Selecting customize option 185presents the user with a customization web page containing guidefeatures that the user can customize, such as channel line-ups andgenre-specific display colors (e.g., pink for sports program listingsand orange for movie program listings). The customization web page mayalso contain user-selectable options that control how the user receivesreminder messages when a desired program is about to start on the user'stelevision. The user can direct the system to provide a pop-up reminderon the television screen, to send the user an e-mail reminder, or toremind the user via a predetermined paging number, etc. Customize option185 may be provided in any. suitable portion of the program guideservice, such as on a program guide listings page (FIG. 16).

Another option 174 that is available on local cable site page 170 (FIG.10) is local weather option 186. Selecting local weather option 186takes the user to local weather page 188 (FIG. 14). If desired, amap-based menu (such as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) or other user inputarrangement can be used to provide the user with the opportunity toselect additional cities for which weather information is desired.

Program guide option 190 allows the user to access television programlistings that can be organized by time, channel, and category and can besearched. Selecting program guide option 190 takes the user to programguide menu page 194 (FIG. 15). Movie guide option 192 allows the user toaccess channel listings for premium and pay-per-view channels,interviews, and various promotional media. Selecting movie guide option192 takes the user to movie guide menu page 196 (FIG. 23).

The user may reach program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) from gonational option 138 (FIGS. 4 and 8) or go satellite option 140 (FIGS. 4and 8). If the user selected go local option 136 (FIG. 4) andsuccessfully completed registration page 162 (FIG. 9), the user mayreach program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) by selecting program guideoption 190 on local cable site page 170 (FIG. 10). The user may alsoreach program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) via select a city option154. Each of these paths to program guide menu page 194 requires thatslightly different user selections be made.

Go local option 136 (FIG. 4) requires that a user specify a particularlocal region (or cable system operator) of interest to reach local cablesite page 170 (FIG. 10). To reach program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15)from local cable site page 170, the user selects program guide option190.

Go national option 138 (FIGS. 4 and 8) requires that a user select adesired time zone (e.g., eastern, central, mountain, or pacific). Toreach program guide menu page 194 from welcome page 124 (FIG. 4) or pickagain page 152 (FIG. 8), the user selects program guide option 284.

Go satellite option 140 (FIGS. 4 and 8) requires that the user select adesired satellite provider 286. To reach program guide menu page 194from welcome page 124 (FIG. 4) or pick again page 152 (FIG. 8), the userselects program guide option 288.

Select a city option 154 (FIG. 8) requires that the user enterinformation specifying a particular city. When the user submits the cityinformation by clicking on submit button 160, the user is taken toregistration page 162 (FIG. 9). The user reaches program guide menu page194 from local cable site page 170 (FIG. 10) after completing the formon registration page 162.

Regardless of which option is used to reach program guide menu page 194(FIG. 15), information is preferably retained by the system 10 or 78that indicates which selections have been made by the user. Retainingthis information allows subsequently displayed program listings andother information to be automatically customized to reflect the user'sselections.

As shown in FIG. 15, program guide menu page 194 may be constructed fromtwo smaller web pages: top web page 198 and a bottom web page 200. Topweb page 198 contains graphics and text-based options 202 that arecommon to many different system operators. Bottom web page 200 maycontain system specific promotional materials, such as pay-per-viewvideo promotion 204. Dividing program guide menu page 194 in this wayallows system resources to be used more efficiently than would otherwisebe possible, because the common material in top web page 198 can be usedfor more than one local cable system.

If desired, television channel options 206 and 208 may be provided thatallow the user to easily access related television channel programservices. When the user selects options 206 or 208, processing unit 60(FIG. 2) sends control commands to video unit 68 that direct tuner 70 ofvideo unit 64 to tune to a television channel on which the desiredprogram service is being broadcast.

For example, if the user wishes to tune video unit 64 to the Prevue®channel, the user may click on program guide television channel option206. When program guide television channel option 206 is selected,processing unit 60 directs video unit 64 to select the appropriatetelevision signal from television signal input 74 so that the Prevue®channel is displayed on monitor 72. The Prevue® channel is an example ofa type of program guide service that displays a scrolling list oftelevision program titles with a concurrent display of promotionalvideos and advertisements.

If the user wishes to tune video unit 64 to the Sneak Prevue® channel,the user may click on movie guide television channel option 208. Whenmovie guide television channel option 208 is selected, processing unit60 directs video unit 64 to select the appropriate television signalfrom television signal input 74 so that the Sneak Prevue® channel isdisplayed on monitor 72. The Sneak Prevue® channel is an example of atype of movie guide service that displays promotional videos of upcomingpay-per-view events and premium channel offerings.

Television channel options 206 and 208 allow user to jump directly froman Internet-based television program guide service to related programguides services provided on conventional television channels.Facilitating this type of direct link is beneficial for the user,because it allows the user to avoid the cumbersome steps of leaving theInternet-based service and manually tuning video unit 64 to theappropriate channel while attempting to remember the correct channelnumber of the desired television service.

Options 202 allow the user to choose how to display various programlistings for the user's preselected region of interest (national,satellite, or local). Typical options 202 include by time option 210, bychannel option 212, by category option 214, and search option 216.

If by time option 210 is selected, the user is presented with by timepage 218, as shown in FIG. 16. By time page 218 contains programlistings 220 that are organized in channel order from top to bottom andby broadcast time from left to right. In by time page 218, the programsin program listings 220 may be listed beginning with programs that arecurrently being broadcast. For example, if the current time is between1:30 PM and 2:00 PM, program listings 220 may begin with programs thatstart at 1:30 PM. Alternatively, the programs in program listings 220may be listed based on a predetermined time slot (e.g., morning.afternoon, or prime time). If desired, the closest time slot to thecurrent time may be displayed. Program listings 220 typically containinformation for about two hours of programming.

Cursors 222 and 224 are used to navigate to earlier or later timeperiods, respectively. Web browser cursors 226 and 228 allow the user toscroll through the program listings. The user may also navigate theprogram listings with time navigation buttons 230. For example, if theuser would like to view program listings that begin in the morning, theuser clicks on the morning navigation button 230. If the user would liketo view program listings for programs currently being broadcast, theuser may click on the current navigation button 230. Program listingsfor different days in the month may be viewed by selecting theappropriate day from calendar buttons 232.

The user can chose between various available view options by selectingthe appropriate time, channel, category, or search button from amongview buttons 234. View buttons 234 take the user to the same web pagesthat are presented when the corresponding options 202 of FIG. 15 areselected. For example, by channel option 212 and channel view button 234are both linked to by channel page 242 (FIG. 17).

Another component of by time page 218 and various other web pagesprovided by the present system is program information box 236. Thecontents of program information box 236 changes dynamically, dependingon which program title in program listings 220 is selected. For example,the user has clicked on the entry “Primal Fear” in program listings 220of FIG. 16. As a result, the contents of program information box 236reflect this selection. Program information box 236 typically containsthe program title (e.g., Primal Fear), the running time of the program(e.g., 2:09), a brief description of the program (e.g., A hot shot . . .), and a description of the program type or genre (e.g., drama movie).The program description may contain information on the actors in theprogram, the director, etc. Program information box 236 typicallyprovides a rating of the program, such as a star rating (e.g., threestars) or the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating formovies or the television rating for television programs. If the userdesires to view additional information relating to the selected program,the user may click on closer look icon 238 (or alternatively, on anyportion of box 236), which takes the user to program information page240 (FIG. 30).

If desired, when programs are selected by a user that are currentlybeing broadcast, direct tune button 231 may be displayed. When directtune button 231 is clicked on by the user, processing unit 60 directsvideo unit 64 to select the appropriate television signal fromtelevision signal input 74 to display the selected program on monitor72.

By channel page 242 of FIG. 17 is presented when the user selects bychannel option 212 from program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) or whenthe user clicks on a channel view button, such as channel view button234 of by time page 218 (FIG. 16). By channel page 242 contains channellist 244. Channel list 244 may be arranged in channel number order andmay contain associated icons 246 for certain channels. A user can clickon each individual channel 248 in channel list 244 to obtain a list ofprogram information based on the selected channel. A user can also clickon a graphic or text link to a listed network's web site to behyperlinked to that site.

When a channel 248 is selected, the user is presented with channelprogram list page 250, as shown in FIG. 18. The selected channel in theexample of FIG. 18 is channel 2. In channel program list page 250,program listings 252 for the selected channel may be arranged in timeorder, beginning with the current time. If programs in program listings252 extend into the next day, the programs may be separated by dateseparation bar 254. Title bar 256 contains information identifying thecurrently selected channel.

By category page 258 of FIG. 19 is presented when the user selects bycategory option 214 from program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) or whenthe user clicks on a category view button, such as category view button234 of by time page 218 (FIG. 16). By category page 258 containscategory list 260, which may be presented in the form of category icons262. A user can click an individual category icon 262 in category list260 to obtain a list of program information based on the selectedcategory.

When a category is selected, the user is presented with category programlist page 264, as shown in FIG. 20. In category program list page 264,program listings 266 may be arranged in time and channel order,beginning with the current time and date. Program listings 266 containthe channel information for each program adjacent to the program title.If a user wishes to view program information for a given channel, theuser may click on one of the displayed channels. The user is thenpresented with a program list that is restricted to programs appearingon the selected channel.

If desired, the program list that is displayed in category program listpage 264 may be limited to programs appearing in the next 24 hourperiod. The user may view information for later days by clicking on theappropriate day in calendar buttons 270.

Search page 272 of FIG. 21 is presented when the user selects searchoption 216 from program guide menu page 194 (FIG. 15) or when the userclicks on a search view button, such as search view button 234 in bytime page 218 (FIG. 16). Search field options 274 allow the user toselect a search field, such as title, actor, category, description,rating. A search text string is entered in search text box 276.

After search text has been entered in search text box 276 and one ofsearch field options 274 has been selected, the requested search isperformed (e.g., by web server 20 (FIG. 1) or web server 86 (FIG. 3))and the user is provided with search results page 278 of FIG. 22. Searchresults page 278 contains program listings 280 that satisfy the searchcriteria specified using search page 272 (FIG. 21). For example, theprogram listings 280 in FIG. 22 resulted from a search for the textstring “Gibson” in the actor search field, as shown by search criteriabar 282.

The user may reach movie guide menu page 196 (FIG. 23) from go nationaloption 138 (FIGS. 4 and 8) or go satellite option 140 (FIGS. 4 and 8).If the user selects go local option 136 (FIG. 4) and successfullycompletes registration page 162 (FIG. 9), the user may reach movie guidemenu page 196 (FIG. 23) by selecting movie guide option 192 on localcable site page 170 (FIG. 10). Each of these paths to movie guide menupage 196 requires that slightly different user selections be made.

Go local option 136 (FIG. 4) requires that a user specify a particularlocal region (or cable system operator) of interest to reach local cablesite page 170 (FIG. 10). To reach movie guide menu page 196 (FIG. 23)from local cable site page 170, the user selects movie guide option 192.

Go national option 138 (FIGS. 4 and 8) requires that a user select adesired time zone (e.g., eastern, central, mountain, or pacific). Toreach movie guide menu page 196 from welcome page 124 (FIG. 4) or pickagain page 152 (FIG. 8), the user selects movie guide option 290.

Go satellite option 140 (FIGS. 4 and 8) requires that the user select adesired satellite provider 286. To reach movie guide menu page 196 fromwelcome page 124 (FIG, 4) or pick again page 152 (FIG. 8), the userselects movie guide option 292.

Regardless of which option is used to reach movie guide menu page 196,information is preferably retained by the system 10 or 78 that indicateswhich selections have been made by the user. Retaining this informationallows subsequently displayed program listings and other information tobe automatically customized to reflect the user's selections.

As shown in FIG. 23, movie guide menu page 196 contains hot picks option294, movie cruiser option 296, main event option 298, and interviewoption 300. When the user selects one of these options by clicking onthe associated icon, the user is presented with a corresponding web pagefor that feature.

If the user selects hot picks option 294, the user is provided with hotpicks page 302, as shown in FIG. 24. Hot picks page 302 contains images304, 306, 308, and 310 of popular programs for which promotionalmaterials are available. Images 304 and 308 typically contain programtitles. Images 306 and 310 typically contain actor stills. The programsfor which images 304, 306, 308, and 310 are displayed may beautomatically selected in accordance with their upcoming frequency onthe pay-per-view services. The upcoming frequency may be calculatedbased on the number of expected occurrences of a given program in apredetermined period of time (e.g., seven days). The predeterminedperiod may be commenced starting with the current date and time, therebyallowing for a seamless crossing of the monthly barrier. The informationused to determine which program images are displayed is preferablycustomized based on the selections (local, national, satellite, etc.)previously made by the user.

When the user clicks on one of images 304, 306, 308, or 310, the user istaken to program information page 240 (FIG. 30), which allows the userto obtain additional information, such as video clips and interviewsegments on the selected program. When a user clicks on pay-per-viewlink 312 or pay-per-view link 314, the user is taken to pay-per viewpage 316 (FIG. 26), which provides the user with pay-per-view programlistings for the selected program.

When the user selects movie cruiser option 296, the user is presentedwith movie cruiser page 318, as shown in FIG. 25. Movie cruiser page 318lists the pay-per-view and premium channels that are available to theuser (based on previous selections). In particular, movie cruiser page318 contains pay-per-view channel options 320 and premium channeloptions 322.

If the user selects one of pay-per-view options 320, the user is takento pay-per-view page 316, as shown in FIG. 26. Pay-per-view page 316contains program listings 324 for pay-per-view events. Multiplepay-per-view programs may be simultaneously listed in a grid format ormay be listed as shown in FIG. 26 for a selected pay-per-view channel(i.e., channel 35). As with several other pages, page 316 containsprogram information box 325, which contains program information when aprogram from program listings 324 has been selected by the user.Clicking on box 325 (or a closer look icon in box 325) takes the user toprogram information page 240 (FIG. 30).

If the user selects one of premium channel options 322 on page 318 (FIG.25), the user is taken to premium services page 326, as shown in FIG.27. Premium services page 326 contains program listings 328 for premiumevents. Multiple premium service programs may be simultaneously listedin a grid format or a single program may be listed as shown in FIG. 27for a selected premium service (i.e., the Disney® channel). Programinformation box 330 provides program information for a program that hasbeen selected by the user. In the example of FIG. 27, the user hasclicked on “Pete's Dragon.” Clicking on program information box 330 (ora closer look icon in box 330) takes the user to program informationpage 240 (FIG. 30), where the user can view additional information onthe selected program (i.e., information on the movie Pete's Dragon).

When the user selects main event option 298 from movie guide menu page196. (FIG. 23), the user is presented with main event page 332, as shownin FIG. 28. Main event page 332 lists premium or pay-per-view sportsevents and other special events. By clicking on an event (e.g., event334), the user may be presented with an associated program informationpage (such as page 240 of FIG. 30), provided that additional informationon the event is available. Alternatively, the user may be directlypresented with pay-per-view order page 336 (FIG. 31).

When the user selects interview option 300 from movie guide menu page196 (FIG. 23), the user is presented with interview page 338, as shownin FIG. 29. Interview page 338 contains still images 340 of varioussubjects. As with other pages in the Internet program guide service, thesubjects presented on interview page 338 are customized to reflect theuser's selected type of service (e.g., the user's selection of aparticular cable system operator or the user's selection of nationalservice or a particular satellite service). Accordingly, images 340relate to interviews for the movies and other programs currentlyavailable to the user. The determination of which interview images 340are to be made available on interview page 338 may be based on acalculation of the most frequently scheduled upcoming programs in apredetermined time period (e.g., in the upcoming week). If desired,interviews corresponding to programs hot currently available to the usermay also be provided. The user may select a given interview by clickingon one of images 340. The user is then taken to program information page240 (FIG. 30).

As shown in FIG. 30, program information page 240 contains detailedinformation on a selected program (e.g., the movie Birdcage). Programinformation page 240 preferably contains image 342, which may initiallybe presented as a still image of the program title (e.g., from a JPEG orGIF file). When a user clicks on image 342, an associated video clip ispresented. Program information page 240 also contains title 344, actorinformation 346, and program description 348. Additional information mayinclude content information 350 and genre information 352. If desired,information may be provided on the director, year of release, and otherrelevant items. Additional actor information may be supplied (e.g., inthe form of biographical information and related video clips accessed byclicking on actors 346).

Interview icon 354, commentary icon 356, and promotional clip icon 358represent available services. The user can view video clips ofinterviews on the selected program (i.e., the movie Birdcage) byclicking on the appropriate file-type option associated with a givenservice. For example, file options 360, 362, and 364 are associated withan interview service (represented by interview icon 354). Clicking onfile option 360 allows the user to view interview video clips using aprotocol appropriate for an MOV file (e.g., using the QuickTimeapplication). Clicking on file option 362 or 364 allows the user to viewinterview video clip using a protocol appropriate for an AVI or MPG(MPEG) file (e.g., using the ActiveMovie application). Commentary icon356 and promotional clip icon 358 have associated file options (e.g.,MOV, AVI, and MPG options) that allow the user to view commentary orpromotional video clips for the selected program.

Program information page 240 contains information tied to the programselected by the user on previous pages. The user may reach programinformation page 240 by various paths. For example, the user may selecta program from program listings 220 in by time page 218 (FIG. 16) byclicking on the desired program title. The user may also select apay-per-view or premium program from pay-per-view page 316 (FIG. 26) orpremium services page 326 (FIG. 27) by clicking on the appropriatelisting. When the user reaches program information page 240, programinformation is provided for the selected program. Icons and otherindicators are used to identify which services are available for theselected program. For example, if no commentary video clips areavailable for a given program, then the file options below commentaryicon 356 may be omitted. Similarly, if no video still is available for amovie, image 342 can be omitted.

Program information page 240 contains program listings 366, whichprovide program title, channel, and time and date information for theselected program. In the example shown in FIG. 30, the movie Birdcage isappearing on channel 35 (a pay-per-view channel) on three days in thenext weekly period. When the user clicks on a pay-per-view entry inprogram listings 366, the user is taken to order page 336 (FIG. 31).

As shown in FIG. 31, order page 336 contains instructions 368 on how toorder a pay-per-view event. Order page 336 also contains telephonenumber query box 370 and personal identification number box 372. Theuser may place an order for a pay-per-view event by clicking on placeorder button 374. Information entered by the user into boxes 370 and 372is used to verify the user's identity and account status. Once theuser's information has been verified, the selected pay-per-view eventmay be delivered to the user's multimedia system.

The way in which pay-per-view event orders are processed depends on theparticular hardware used to deliver services to the user. Order andaccount verification information is generally electronically submittedto the headend cable system operator or a third party order fulfillmentprocessor linked to the headend system. Equipment in the headendprocesses the order automatically and arranges for the delivery, of thepay-per-view event to the user. Typically, the headend equipment directsequipment (such as a set-top box or similar integrated component) in theuser's multimedia system to display the ordered event.

In system 78 of FIG. 3, web server 86 at cable system headend 88 may beused to receive and process pay-per-view orders submitted using orderpage 336. After processing the order, web server 86 can directconventional pay-per-view equipment at headend 88 to authorize thedisplay of the ordered pay-per-view event using set-top box 116.

Similar techniques for delivering pay-per-view events may be used withother hardware arrangements such as those shown in FIGS. 1-3. Ifdesired, after web server 86 has processed the user's pay-per-vieworder, web server 86 can communicate authorization information toprocessing unit 60 (FIG. 2) in the user's multimedia system 58 (FIG. 2).Processing unit 60 (FIG. 2) can direct video unit 64 (FIG. 2) to decodeand display the pay-per view event from among the received televisionsignals 74 (FIG. 2) based on the authorization information.

Order page 336 can be provided with user-selectable options forrecording programs and for reminding the user when selected programs areabout to be broadcast. For example, order page 336 may contain aclickable record button. Selecting the record option by clicking on therecord button directs multimedia system 58 (FIG. 2) to record theselected program (by controlling recording unit 68 of video unit 64 withprocessing unit 60) when the selected program is being aired. Similarly,order page 336 may contain a clickable reminder button. Selecting thereminder option by clicking on this button directs multimedia system 58to remind the user of the upcoming selected program (e.g., 10 minutesbefore the scheduled broadcast time) by automatically tuning to thedesired channel, by displaying a reminder message, or by issuing anaudible reminder. Reminder messages may also be generated by web server20 or 86 and transmitted to multimedia system 58 by e-mail.

If desired, these selectable recording and reminder features can beincorporated into other pages, such as program information page 240, oneof the pages containing television program listings, or a page presentedto the user after clicking on place order button 374.

When a user clicks on an advertisement (typically an image) in one ofthe web pages associated with the program guide service, the user may betaken directly to a more detailed advertisement page. Alternatively, theuser may be taken to advertiser showcase page 376, as shown in FIG. 32.Advertiser showcase page 376 contains clickable images, such as images378, 380, and 382, which are linked to more detailed advertising pages.Advertiser showcase page 376 also may contain a advertiser logo image,such as image 390. Text bar 392 contains clickable text fields thatduplicate the selections available by clicking on images.

The advertiser logo image in advertiser showcase page 376 may be linkedto the web site of the advertiser. For example, image 390 may be linkedto a web site for UPN, so that if the user clicks on image 390, the userwill be taken to the UPN web site.

If the user clicks on an image such as images 378, 380, or 382 inadvertiser showcase page 376, the user is presented with advertisementpage 394, as shown in FIG. 33. Advertisement page 394 contains detailedinformation related to the subject matter of the image that was selectedfrom advertiser showcase page 376 (FIG. 32). In the example of FIG. 33,additional information is provided on the program “The Sentinel, ”because this program was selected in advertising showcase page 376 byclicking on image 382. If desired, advertisement page 394 can containappropriate links to further advertisement pages or to the advertiser'shome page.

FIG. 34 is a site map of the television program guide service. Theservice can be accessed from service provider home page 396. Selectingthe television program guide service from home page 396 takes the userto welcome page 124. If the user selects the go local option and noservice is available, no service page 150 and pick again page 152 arepresented. If the user selects the go local option and service isavailable, the user is taken to registration page 162. If maps 146 (FIG.5) and 148 (FIG. 6) are used to define the local area of interest, themaps may be provided in path 398 between welcome page 124 andregistration page 162.

Selecting an advertisement by clicking on its image may typically bedone on any page containing an advertisement. In the example of FIG. 34,selecting an advertisement on registration page 162 takes the user toadvertiser showcase page 376. Selecting an image on advertiser showcasepage 376 takes the user to advertisement page 394.

Completing the registration form on registration page 162 allows theuser to proceed to local cable site page 170. From local cable site page170, the user can view community events page 178 by selecting thecommunity events option. By selecting the cable feedback option, thecable operator option, or the local weather option, the user can accesscable feedback page 182, cable operator page 186, or local weather page188.

If the user selects the go national option on welcome page 124, the useris taken to program guide menu page 194 or movie guide menu page 196,depending on whether the user selected the program guide or movie guideoption. Similarly, if the user selects the go satellite option onwelcome page 124, the user is taken to program guide menu page 194 ormovie guide menu page 196, depending on whether the user selected theprogram guide or movie guide option. The user can also reach programguide menu page 194 or movie guide menu page 196 from pick again page152 or local cable site page 170. If the user reaches program guide menupage 194 from either pick again page 152 or local cable site page 170,the local area of interest to the user is retained by the system, sothat subsequently displayed program guide listings can be customized tothe user's local area.

When the user is at program guide menu page 194, selecting the programguide channel option tunes the system directly to program guidetelevision channel 400. Similarly, selecting the movie guide channeloption tunes the system to movie guide television channel 402. Selectingthe time option from program guide menu page 194 takes the user to bytime page 218. If a program is selected that is currently beingbroadcast and is therefore available for the user to view, a direct tuneoption may be displayed on by time page 218 or any page containingprogram listings. Selecting the direct tune option tunes the user'stelevision unit directly to selected television channel 404.

Selecting the channel option from program guide menu page 194 takes theuser to by channel page 242. When the user selects a desired channel,channel program list page 250 is displayed. Selecting the categoryoption from program guide menu page 194 takes the user to by categorypage 258. When the user selects a desired category, category programlist page 264 is displayed.

When the user at program guide menu page 194 selects the search option,search page 272 is presented. Search page 272 allows the user to entersearch terms and to initiate a search of a program database. After thesearch is performed, search results page 278 is displayed.

Selecting the movie guide option from welcome page 124, pick again page152, or local cable site page 170 presents the user with movie guidemenu page 196. If the user selects the interview option, the user ispresented with interview page 338. When the user selects an interviewfrom interview page 338, the user is taken to program information page240 to view the interview. If the user selects the hot picks option frommovie guide menu page 196, the user is presented with hot picks page302. When the user selects a hot pick from the displayed images on hotpicks page 302, the user is taken to program information page 240 toview a promotional video clip for the hot pick. If the user selects themain event option from movie guide menu page 196, the user is presentedwith main event page 332. When the user selects a given event from mainevents page 332, the user is taken to program information page 240 toview information on that event. Alternatively, the user may be taken toorder page 316 to place an order for the event.

Selecting the movie cruiser option from movie guide menu page 196presents the user with movie cruiser page 318. The user can viewpay-per-view page 316 by selecting the pay-per-view option. The user canview premium services page 326 by selecting the premium option. Programsmay be selected by the user from either pay-per-view page 316 or premiumservices page 326. In either case, the user is taken to programinformation page 240 to view additional information on the selectedprogram.

Program information page 240 allows the user to view multimedia materialon a given program, interview, event, etc. The content of programinformation page 240 depends on the path taken to reach programinformation page 240 and the options selected by the user. Programinformation page 240 contains options that allow the user to select aprogram to view. When the user makes such a program selection, the useris presented with order page 336.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this inventionand various modifications can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope arid spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transmitting at least one remindermessage for at least one media asset to a user of a multimedia system,the method comprising: receiving, from a first user device that iscapable of generating a display including the at least one media asset,user input to set the at least one reminder message for the at least onemedia asset, wherein the at least one reminder message is primarilyassociated with the user, wherein the at least one reminder message doesnot comprise an email communication, and wherein the at least onereminder message is designated to be delivered to a second user devicedifferent from the first user device on which the at least one remindermessage was set; prior to a transmission time of the at least one mediaasset, automatically generating the at least one reminder message forthe at least one media asset; and automatically transmitting the atleast one reminder message to the second user device over acommunications link to remind the user when the at least one media assetis to be transmitted such that the second user device receives the atleast one reminder message without transmitting a request to receive theat least one reminder message, wherein the second user device differentfrom the first user device is capable of generating the displayincluding the at least one media asset.
 2. The method of claim 1 whereinautomatically generating the at least one reminder message comprisesautomatically generating the at least one reminder message using aserver.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the server is a web server. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein the communications link is at least oneof an Internet communications link that utilizes Internet Protocol datatransmissions, a wireless communications link, and a telephonecommunications link.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving theuser input to set the at least one reminder message comprises receivingthe user input to set the at least one reminder message using themultimedia system.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:generating a display including a plurality of media asset identifiers;and receiving a selection of at least one media asset identifier,wherein the receipt of the selection causes the at least one remindermessage to be set for the selected at least one media asset identifier.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one media asset is videocontent.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating acustomization web page for display, wherein the customization web pagecontains a plurality of selectable options for customizing how the atleast one reminder message is to be received by the user.
 9. The methodof claim 8, wherein a selectable option of the plurality of selectableoptions is a pop-up reminder option.
 10. The method of claim 9, whereina pop-up reminder is generated for display to the user at a time priorto the transmission time of the at least one media asset if the pop-upreminder option is selected.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein thecommunications link is an Internet communications link that utilizesInternet Protocol data transmissions.
 12. The method of claim 1, whereinthe transmission time is a broadcast time of the media asset.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising generating for display a displayscreen at the first user device, wherein the display screen includes afirst selectable option for ordering the at least one media asset, andwherein the display screen includes a second selectable option forsetting a reminder for the at least one media asset.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the display screen is a web page.
 15. A system fortransmitting at least one reminder message for at least one media assetto a user of a multimedia system, the system comprising a serverconfigured to: receive, from a first user device that is capable ofgenerating a display including the at least one media asset, user inputto set the at least one reminder message for the at least one mediaasset, wherein the at least one reminder message is primarily associatedwith the user, wherein the at least one reminder message does notcomprise an email communication, and wherein the at least one remindermessage is designated to be delivered to a second user device differentfrom the first user device on which the at least one reminder messagewas set; prior to a transmission time of the at least one media asset,automatically generate at least one reminder message for the at leastone media asset; and automatically transmit the at least one remindermessage to the second user device over a communications link to remindthe user when the at least one media asset is to be transmitted suchthat the second user device receives the at least one reminder messagewithout transmitting a request to receive the at least one remindermessage, wherein the second user device different from the first userdevice is capable of generating the display including the at least onemedia asset.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the multimedia systemincludes a processing unit.
 17. The system of claim 15 wherein theserver is a web server.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein thecommunications link is at least one of an Internet communications linkthat utilizes Internet Protocol data transmissions, a wirelesscommunications link, and a telephone communications link.
 19. The systemof claim 15 wherein the server is further configured to: generate adisplay including a plurality of media asset identifiers; and receiveselection of at least one media asset identifier, wherein the receipt ofthe selection causes the at least one reminder message to be set for theselected at least one media asset identifier.
 20. The system of claim15, wherein the at least one media asset is video content.
 21. Thesystem of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured togenerate a customization web page for display, wherein the customizationweb page contains a plurality of selectable options for customizing howthe at least one reminder message is to be received by the user.
 22. Thesystem of claim 21, wherein a selectable option of the plurality ofselectable options is a pop-up reminder option.
 23. The system of claim21, wherein a pop-up reminder is generated for display to the user at atime prior to the transmission time of the at least one media asset ifthe pop-up reminder option is selected.
 24. The system of claim 15,wherein the communications link is an Internet communications link thatutilizes Internet Protocol data transmissions.
 25. The system of claim15, wherein the transmission time is a broadcast time of the mediaasset.
 26. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to generate for display a display screen at the first userdevice, wherein the display screen includes a first selectable optionfor ordering the at least one media asset, and wherein the displayscreen includes a second selectable option for setting a reminder forthe at least one media asset.
 27. The system of claim 26, wherein thedisplay screen is a web page.
 28. A system for transmitting a remindermessage for video content of a program to a viewer, the systemcomprising a server configured to: receive user input at a first userdevice to set a reminder message for the video content of the programover a data network from an address, wherein the first user device iscapable of generating a display including the video content of theprogram, wherein the reminder message is designated to be delivered to asecond user device different from the first user device on which the atleast one reminder message was set, and wherein the reminder messagedoes not comprise an email communication; prior to a transmission timeof the video content of the program, automatically generate the remindermessage for the video content of the program; and automatically transmitthe reminder message to the second user device to remind the viewer thatthe video content of the program is to be transmitted such that thesecond user device receives the reminder message without transmitting arequest to receive the reminder message, wherein the second user devicedifferent from the first user device is capable of generating thedisplay including the video content of the program.
 29. The system ofclaim 28 wherein the reminder message is transmitted to the second userdevice over a network other than the data network.
 30. The system ofclaim 28 wherein the server is configured to generate a display for theviewer with a page including a plurality of media asset identifiers fromwhich the viewer can set up the reminder message.
 31. The system ofclaim 28, wherein the transmission time is a broadcast time of the videocontent of the program.
 32. The system of claim 28, wherein theprocessor is further configured to generate, at the server, for displaya display screen at the first user device, wherein the display screenincludes a first selectable option for ordering the video content of theprogram, and wherein the display screen includes a second selectableoption for setting a reminder for the video content of the program. 33.The system of claim 32, wherein the display screen is a web page.